Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 1510160807 and RFA No. 1510190320
Question
Answer
If passed over in Round 1, may Eligible Applicants make changes to Round 2 application?
Round 1 funding determinations will not be announced before the Round 2 submission
deadline of December 18, 2015. However, applications not awarded funding in Round
1 will automatically be considered for funding in Round 2 unless withdrawn by the
applicant.
Can we submit an Essential Health Care Provider Support Program application directly for the Yes. However, you must identify in your application that it is submitted for Round 2.
Round 2 December 18th due date?
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
Q#
1
2
Category
Essential Health
Care Provider
Support Program
RFA - Specific
Essential Health
Care Provider
Support Program
RFA - Specific
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EHCPSP-Health We are developing a complete HIPAA compliant mobile application, but need help with
Care Delivery
funding to cover our development costs. I would like to know if we are eligible for a grant
System Innovators under the ‘Health Care Delivery System Innovation Fund’.
Fund RFA- Specific
4
EHCPSP-Health
Care Delivery
System Innovators
Fund RFA- Specific
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EHCPSP-Health If grant funds are used in the innovator program to renovate space can that space be rented
Care Delivery
to community based organization's partner to provide wellness services?
System Innovators
Fund RFA- Specific
6
EHCPSP-Health
Care Delivery
System Innovators
Fund RFA- Specific
7
EHCPSP-Health Can you please tell me whether it is absolutely required for an applicant to be part of a
Care Delivery
merger or acquisition to be eligible for these funds? The eligibility criteria for the applicant or
System Innovators project do not seem to suggest this is required.
Fund RFA- Specific
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Administrative
Requirements
9
Administrative
Requirements
10
Administrative
Requirements
11
Administrative
Requirements
Administrative
Requirements
12
Eligible Applicants must be General Hospitals. See answer to Question 33.
In relation to the the Innovators fund, it seems like funds can't be used for those activities that Excluded expense are identified in the RFA on page 6 .
would generally be considered for innovative programs of care such as new staffing models
or care expansion. Therefore, only eligible expenses are for debt retirement or
acquisition/capital. is this interpretation accurate?
Yes, grants funds can be used to renovate space owned by the applicant.
The Innovators Fund RFA talks about non-capital projects being eligible, yet it excludes most Excluded expense are identified in the RFA on page 6.
expenses that would be associated with a non-capital project. In particular, where it talks
about early innovator projects, shared savings, etc. None of the innovative projects were are
involved in are capital intensive. Debt reduction would be marginally helpful; all are operating
expense intense such as the cost needed to develop a pilot demonstration bundled payment
program or some other similar project. It seems like a contradiction, identifying eligible
projects that are operationally intensive, and then essentially not allowing those costs.
No. Eligible Projects are not limited to mergers or acquisitions. The RFA emphasizes
the preservation or expansion of innovative models of care. Eligible costs are detailed
in the RFA on page 6.
Are the 15% MBE and the 15% WBE goals a percentage of eligible expenses of the
NYSDOH grant award portion of a project budget or are they a percentage of the entire
project budget?
We have not identified subcontractors for construction or vendors for equipment because we
are in the very early stages of planning. Would a MWBE waiver be appropriate?
These goals apply to the New York State Department of Health grant award portion of
the project budget.
Is a completed MWBE form required as a part of the RFA response? Is a RFA response
complete, and could it receive a maximum score/approval, if it does not include a completed
MWBE form?
Can the required attachments be submitted on the flash drive as separate files, or do they
need to be compiled into one file/document?
I have a question for the MWBE portion of the grant. How do we include actual firms to meet
this requirement if we haven’t officially bid out our project yet?
The applicant should commit to a MWBE participation goal, but the applicant does not
need to identify specific firms at the time of application.
The applicant should commit to a MWBE participation goal, but the applicant does not
need to identify specific firms at the time of application.
The required attachments can either be submitted as separate files or compiled into
one file or document.
The applicant should commit to a MWBE participation goal, but the applicant does not
need to identify specific firms at the time of application.
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Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 15-10160807 and RFA No. 15-10190320
Question
Answer
Do you want the Technical Proposal included in one packet clearly labeled Technical
The required attachments can either be submitted as separate files or compiled into
Proposal and the Financial Proposal in another packet clearly labeled Financial Proposal and one file or document.
then submitted as one package? Do you want one Flash Drive for the Technical Proposal and
one Flash Drive for the Financial Proposal?
Amount of Request What is the ceiling for capital request?
The intent of the Essential Health Care Provider Support Program RFA is to fund as
many eligible applications that are evaluated to be “Good” or “Acceptable” as possible.
For purposes of determining final awards within each tier, DOH will give preference to
applications that request $25 million or less, among other considerations. The strength
of an application and the likelihood that it will be evaluated positively is largely
dependent on the overall approach taken by the applicant to improve their long-term
financial sustainability and/or preserve essential health care services in the
community.
Amount of Request What is the recommended maximum ask that you are hoping to see for each application
The intent of the Essential Health Care Provider Support Program RFA is to fund as
given the limited funding and desire to geographically distribute the funds?
many eligible applications that are evaluated to be “Good” or “Acceptable” as possible.
For purposes of determining final awards within each tier, DOH will give preference to
applications that request $25 million or less, among other considerations. The strength
of an application and the likelihood that it will be evaluated positively is largely
dependent on the overall approach taken by the applicant to improve their long-term
financial sustainability and/or preserve essential health care services in the
community.
Application Process Top of page 4, Section I of each RFA – “this is not a traditional competitive process” and that No. To be eligible for funding consideration, an application must be submitted by a
“funds may be awarded without a competitive bid or request for proposal process” and “will be General Hospital. Any awards must be used by the General Hospital as described in
awarded in the discretion of the Commissioner of Health”. Does this mean that some portion their application and cannot be transferred.
of the funds allocated to each of these RFA’s will be allocated to other entities who do not
submit an application in response to this RFA as deemed by the Commissioner of Health?
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
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15
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Category
Administrative
Requirements
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Change in
Application PostSubmission
If we identify one affiliate in our application, and post-application, we change negotiations to
another potential affiliate, will that change of affiliate modify and/or disqualify our application
and/or award?
Awards are determined based on the submitted application. If information provided in
the application were to significantly change after submission or after an award is
made, the application/project may be disqualified by the Department. While it is
preferable for an application to identify specific partners/affiliates, in a situation where
an applicant is committed to a merger, consolidation or other affiliation relationship,
but it is premature to identify the affiliate(s), the applicant should consider indicating
such a commitment and providing as many details as possible regarding the nature of
the affiliation and how it would improve their long-term financial sustainability and/or
preserve essential health care services in the community without identifying a specific
partner(s).
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Change in
Application PostSubmission
If we are currently in one DSRIP in our application, and post-application, we change or
request to change to another DSRIP, will that change in DSRIP modify and/or disqualify our
application and/or award?
19
Change in
Application PostSubmission
A member hospital has been negotiating a letter of intent with a partner (merger,
consolidation and restructuring) but has been approached by other parties to consider an
affiliation. The matter may not be solved by the RFA due date. If the project that they submit
stay essentially the same notwithstanding the partner, would their award (should they receive
one) be intact or withdrawn if they change affiliations. As part of this dynamic, the facilities
that have approached the member hospital are each members of different PPSs, so a PPS
shift might occur. Would that affect any award?
Awards are determined based on the submitted application. If information provided in
the application were to significantly change after submission or after an award is
made, the application/project may be disqualified by the Department. While it is
preferable for an application to identify specific partners/affiliates, In a situation where
an applicant may move to another DSRIP PPS, the applicant should describe its Plan
for improving long-term financial sustainability and/or preserving essential health care
services in the community, and associated affiliations and actions without identifying a
specific partner(s).
See answer to Question #17 above.
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Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 15-10160807 and RFA No. 15-10190320
Category
Question
Answer
CON Requirements Are there any CON guidelines or requirements associated with these RFAs?
Projects awarded under this RFA are subject to applicable CON guidelines and
regulations.
CRFP
Yes, if the applications meet the requirements of the RFA.
We have submitted several CRFP applications that are essential components of our
Transformation Plan through CRFP. Those awards may not be announced before the EHCPS
deadline of November 20th. Should we submit those projects, since they are necessary for
our Transformation Plan to be successful, through EHCPS? We would, of course, withdraw
the application in the event that the project receives CRFP funding.
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
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Deadlines
Since the Answers to Questions won't be released until 11/12, are you considering extending
the 11/20 grant deadline? This doesn't leave much time to complete the application after
Q&As are released.
Is there any further clarification on how to determine whether requests should be filed under
Innovation or the Essential portion of the RFP? For example, are the initiatives like Medical
Village and Critical Access Beds, which are considered “innovations” under DSRIP,
applications that should be submitted under the innovation portion of the Essential
Community Provider pool? Or are they no longer considered innovations, since they are
named in the DSRIP projects?
Can you provide further guidance on how to determine which RFP the project is best suited
for? For example, a major capital renovation that will facilitate transformation and is critical to
financial sustainability but will also support innovative care models.
If we do not meet the balance sheet negative equity over the last 3 years but new accounting
for the Pension liability and workers comp liability will change the balance to negative will the
application be considered.
On page 4 of the RFP there is eligibility based on unsustainability or what the commissioner
identifies as an unmet need. Will one weigh heavier than the other (i.e. unsustainability vs
unmet need).
If you are a Sole Community Hospital but don't meet all the financial criteria do you qualify?
Extending the deadlines for submitting RFA applications is not being considered at this
time.
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Differences in
RFAs
24
Differences in
RFAs
25
Eligibility Criteria
26
Eligibility Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
28
Eligibility Criteria
When identifying services that would be otherwise unavailable in said region, how do you
define region? What is the geographical scope for this?
Criteria includes CAH and Sole Community, how about Medicare Dependent Hospitals?
The geographic region includes the community(ies) served by the General Hospital.
29
Eligibility Criteria
30
Eligibility Criteria
What criteria will be used for the Commissioner to deem that a provider fulfills or will fulfill an
unmet need?
31
Eligibility Criteria
In evaluating grant applications for awards, is preference given to hospitals applying that
have had unsustainable operations for the past 3 years or are applications from hospitals
fulfilling an unmet need in their community given equal preference in evaluating proposals?
32
Eligibility Criteria
Yes.
What if the audited financial statements of a corporate entity that operates two hospital
divisions do not satisfy the three financial criteria. However, the financial operations at one of
the two divisions would satisfy the criteria. Would that division be eligible for this grant based
on having “unsustainable operations”, assuming it could verify the compliance by providing
financial data concerning the division’s operations?
It is incumbent on the applicant to determine which RFA to apply to, based on the
nature and purpose of the project and plan being considered, and the articulated goals
and requirements described in each RFA. Eligible Projects for funding under both
RFAs include DSRIP projects. Requests for funding cannot be used, however, to
duplicate previously awarded DSRIP funding. The applicant must attest to the unique
purpose of the funding.
It is incumbent on the applicant to determine which RFA to apply to, based on the
nature and purpose of the project and plan being considered, and the articulated goals
and requirements described in each RFA.
Awards are determined based on the submitted application. To be considered, the
applicant must qualify under the Eligible Applicant criteria listed in Section II. Who May
Apply. Subsection (c) includes the alternative criteria.
These are eligibility criteria; neither has a greater weight than the other.
Yes.
Medicare Dependent Hospitals may qualify under the sustainability or alternative
criteria identified in the RFA. Section II. Who May Apply.
Section V.1.3 in the Technical Proposal Section of the RFA requires the applicant to
provide an "Assessment of Community Need". The Department will consider this
information as well as other information related to service capacity and need.
Improving fiscal sustainability, which will preserve essential health care service
availability, is the primary goal of the program.
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Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 15-10160807 and RFA No. 15-10190320
Category
Question
Answer
Eligible Applicants Must an Eligible Applicant be a general hospital?
Yes. Per Section II: Who May Apply of the RFA: " An Eligible Applicant must meet all
of the following criteria to be eligible to receive grant funding under this RFA:….(b) Be
a General Hospital as defined in Article 28 of the PHL…"
PHL Section 2801 (10) states that a "General hospital" means a hospital engaged in
providing medical or medical and surgical services primarily to in-patients by or under
the supervision of a physician on a twenty-four hour basis with provisions for
admission or treatment of persons in need of emergency care and with an organized
medical staff and nursing service, including facilities providing services relating to
particular diseases, injuries, conditions or deformities. The term general hospital shall
not include a residential health care facility, public health center, diagnostic center,
treatment center, out-patient lodge, dispensary and laboratory or central service
facility serving more than one institution.
Eligible Applicants Must the entity be licensed as a General Hospital or can they be an Article 28 Licensed
Eligible Applicants must be General Hospitals. See answer to Question 33.
D&TC.
Eligible Applicants Can an Article 31 facilities apply for funding under the Essential Health Care Provider Support Eligible Applicants must be General Hospitals. See answer to Question 33.
Program?
Eligible Applicants Are community health centers eligible to apply?
Eligible Applicants must be General Hospitals. See answer to Question 33.
Eligible Applicants If the partnership includes 2 hospitals and has an active parent company that is not a general Eligible Applicants must be General Hospitals. See answer to Question 33.
hospital, can the active parent be the applicant, or must the hospital be the applicant?
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
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34
35
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Eligible Expenses Is debt owed by a controlled, wholly-owned subsidiary of an Eligible Applicant eligible for
retirement under program?
No. For purposes of debt retirement, the debt must be that of the General Hospital.
39
Eligible Expenses Is secured and unsecured debt that is part of a bankruptcy petition eligible for debt
retirement?
Eligible Expenses Since grant awards are not advanced funded, is interest expense from a revolving line of
credit an Eligible Cost?
Eligible Expenses If a transformation plan closes a program/service, are costs related to closing a
program/service eligible under program?
No. Debt associated with a bankruptcy petition is not an eligible expense.
40
41
42
No.
Yes. If the assets and liabilities of the program/service are part of the General Hospital
and the funding would be used for the purpose of facilitating the health care
transformation of the General Hospital to create a financial sustainable system of care.
43
Eligible Expenses Given that personnel costs are excluded, can you confirm that it is acceptable to subcontract Training costs associated with a specific initiative that is part of an applicant's
for services, e.g. for training needs?
transformation plan would be eligible. However, routine training costs that are part of
an applicant's general operating budget would not be eligible.
Eligible Expenses If the applicant is an Article 28 General Hospital with a hospital-based skilled nursing facility, Yes, if the assets and liabilities of the program/service are part of the General Hospital
would renovation costs of the hospital-based skilled nursing facility be considered Eligible
and the funding would be used for the purpose of facilitating the health care
Expenses for the Essential Health Care Provider Support Program if the expenditures are
transformation of the General Hospital to create a financial sustainable system of care.
related to the hospital’s Eligible Project for sustainability?
44
Eligible Expenses Is a subcontract to a temp agency for personnel considered an allowable expense?
45
Eligible Expenses Is a subcontract for services such as training or curriculum development an allowable
expense?
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
48
Eligible Projects
No. Personnel costs are excluded expenses.
Training costs associated with a specific initiative that is part of an applicant's
transformation plan would be eligible. However, routine training costs that are part of
an applicant's general operating budget would not be eligible.
Is it acceptable for an Eligible Applicant to partner with another hospital that is affiliated in the Yes. Funding is for the purpose of facilitating the health care transformation of
same network but is a distinct facility?
General Hospitals that are essential health care providers through mergers,
consolidation and restructuring activities intended to create financial sustainable
systems of care.
Is it acceptable for an Eligible Applicant to partner with another hospital that is affiliated in the Yes.
same network, is a distinct facility, and has the same active parent?
Is it permissible under this grant to include partnerships that are newly formed, or must the
The program can support either existing or new partnerships.
referenced merger activities include only new partners?
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Q#
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Category
Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 15-10160807 and RFA No. 15-10190320
Question
Answer
Does the Department intend to require that the Eligible Applicant establish a formal or legal
Funding is for the purpose of facilitating the health care transformation of General
relationship with a partner as part of this process, or could a successful EA propose a less
Hospitals that are essential health care providers through mergers, consolidation and
formal restructuring or relationship?
restructuring activities intended to create financial sustainable systems of care. The
strength of an application and the likelihood that it will be evaluated positively is largely
dependent on the overall approach taken by the applicant to improve their long-term
financial sustainability and/or preserve essential health care services in the
community. The transformation activities proposed do not have to involve a legal
relationship between partners, although stronger applications may have more formal
affiliate relationships.
Would the request for application include General In-Patient hospital units for Hospices?
Eligible Projects include those of the General Hospital.
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Eligible Projects
Are investments in IT, to support transformation, permitted?
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
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Eligible Projects
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
IT projects are eligible expenses, but IT costs are not a primary focus of these RFAs
unless they are an integral part of am applicants transformation plan.
Can you expand at all on types of transformation projects that will be supported? Perhaps
There is no fixed list of types of transformation projects that will be supported.
give an example or two?
However, it is important that such projects be closely aligned with a plan for the
applicant to become financially sustainable and preserve essential health care
services in the community.
With respect to 'restructuring', can that be explicitly internal restructuring or does it need to
Internal or external restructuring is an Eligible Project. It is important that Projects be
involve outside agencies/partners
closely aligned with a plan for the applicant to become financially sustainable.
Does the partnership need to be between a hospital and another hospital, or can the
As long as an applicant is a general hospital, the partnership can be with other
partnership/merger activity be between a hospital and another health care provider?
providers.
The potential project would be to upgrade the hospital’s Essential Electrical System (EES)
The Plan should describe how the Project will make the General Hospital financially
including the purchase and installation of a new generator. The EES project seems to meet sustainable. The more concrete the Plan, the more likely it will be successful. Funding
the RFA criteria of preserving essential health care services in an area of unmet need;
is for the purpose of facilitating the health care transformation of General Hospitals
however, the project will not lead to health care transformation such as a merger,
that are essential health care providers through mergers, consolidation and
consolidation or restructuring to help create financially sustainable systems of care. Funding restructuring activities intended to create financial sustainable systems of care.
of the project, would, however, help save the hospital the significant additional expense of the
EES work. Based on this information, would the EES/generator project be eligible for funding
through this RFA?
Could the acquisition of an essential non-hospital provider (e.g. behavioral health) be
Eligible Projects include those of the General Hospital.
considered for funding, as long as it was in alignment with the DSRIP initiatives?
Would our General In Patient wing (used for hospice currently) qualify for the grant?
Eligible Projects include those of the General Hospital.
Can the basic fund program support newly formed hospital partnerships (~12 months old), or The program can support either existing or new partnerships.
is the funding only available to brand new (not yet formed) partnerships?
If an organization applied for funding under CRFP, can they also apply for funding from this
There is nothing in the RFA to preclude an applicant that applied for funding under
pool? If their project has increased in scope can they apply?
CRFP to apply for funding under this RFA. However, an applicant cannot be funded
under both the CRFP and these RFAs for the same project.
If a facility is not yet a 501c3 but a municipal hospital but it plans on converting will it be
The Plan should describe how the Project will make the General Hospital financially
considered in the grant for the costs to convert and elimination of debt and then have the
sustainable. The more concrete the Plan, the more likely it will be successful.
possibility to affiliate for the future?
What are the requirements for mergers and acquisitions? Are clinical affiliations ok?
There are no specific requirements. The quality of the project will be judged based on
how well the Plan will enable the General Hospital to achieve financial sustainability
and the preservation of essential services in the community.
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Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 15-10160807 and RFA No. 15-10190320
Question
Answer
The Plan should describe how the Project will make the General Hospital financially
We are an independent sole community hospital that has been struggling financially for the
sustainable. The more concrete the Plan, the more likely it will be successful. Costs to
past few years, primarily due to losses in our employed physician medical practice. We
currently do not have any active plans to formally affiliate with another system, but know that convert and debt retirement are eligible expenses. Also, see answer to Question 17
when that time comes, we need to be financially stronger than we are today in order to have a above.
say in how that affiliation is structured. My question is can we request funds from the
EHCPSP that help strengthen our balance sheet by retiring debt or possibly providing money
towards a portion of our unfunded defined benefit pension plan that was frozen at the end of
2013? This would make us a more attractive partner in a future affiliation. It also would mean
more of the cash from ongoing operations can be targeted towards investment in new
programs as opposed to funding the pension plan and paying down debt. Our project plan
would then include a timeline for sending out an RFP to surrounding systems regarding
clinical affiliations (ex. outsourcing lab or telemedicine), possible joint venture with our
medical group, etc. We also are willing to decertify some inpatient beds as part of our
application.
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
Q#
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Category
Eligible Projects
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Financial Proposal Are Eligible Applicants (EA) required to own the property used as part of its proposed
EHCPSP project, or may the EA seek funding for a project involving leased property?
A Project may be delivered in leased property, but lease payments are an excluded
expense.
64
Financial Proposal Do you want the financials on a calendar year basis? If not, what start date?
65
Financial Proposal
66
Financial Proposal
67
Financial Proposal
68
Financial Proposal
69
Financial Proposal Is there a desired level of internal matching funds for eligible projects?
Matching and in-kind contribution will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The
level of matching funds or in-kind contributions will not be an evaluation criteria.
70
Financial Proposal Will matching funds or an in-kind contribution make an application stronger?
Matching and in-kind contribution will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The
level of matching funds or in-kind contributions will not be an evaluation criteria.
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Financial Proposal For the EHCPSP basic fund, what % match funding is expected for eligible projects other
Matching and in-kind contribution will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The
than debt retirement? The RFA does not specify that matching funds are required, nor an
level of matching funds or in-kind contributions will not be an evaluation criteria.
amount that would be acceptable, but the Financial narrative section requests a description of
funding sources. For hospitals with little to no ability to contribute funds towards an eligible
project, will the application be disqualified, or can the organization demonstrate through
audited financials that no other means of funding is available?
The financials submitted should correspond with dates that the applicant uses as their
fiscal year.
Can we get better clarity as to what financial schedules need to be completed if we are
All financial schedules need to be completed, with the exception of Schedule B-3
looking for just debt relief.
(Capital-Based Budget) in the instance of seeking only debt relief.
Under attachment 6 budget summary worksheet, are you looking for cash basis (like VAPAP) Accrual Basis.
or accrual basis
For Attachment 6 Tab 3, can a Health System applying to implement a project for one of its
Yes. Financial information for the entire system is allowed. However, the applicant will
owned hospitals (all under one Tax ID) provide the financial feasibility projections based on
need to describe how the single-hospital focused project will improve the sustainability
the entire system rather than the one hospital? All financials are consolidated under the one of that hospital.
health system.
Should the plan and budget be shown over 3 years?
Yes. If the applicant requires more than three years to prove financial feasibility these
additional years should be discussed in the plan. The financial attachments
(specifically attachment 6 budget Summary-tab 3) should demonstrate the applicants
first three years after completion of the project (or the use of the grant funds).
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Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 15-10160807 and RFA No. 15-10190320
Question
Answer
The Total Project Value should include costs associated with the Project(s). If the
On the cover page (attachment 1) where it requests Total Project Value, does the DOH want
Projects are considered interdependent to creating a financially sustainable system of
the applicant to include total cost of the Plan, or just the value of eligible projects in the
care and are described as part of one Plan, they can be submitted as one application
application? There are a few spots in the RFA where the term Plan and Eligible Project are
but each Project should include its own Financial Proposal and the Projects ranked in
used somewhat interchangeably. Can you provide some clarification as to what level of detail
importance. Such information will enable awards to be made in whole or in part. If the
you want to see on the overall Transformation Plan vs. the Eligible Projects, for which the
Projects are not interdependent, they do not need to be submitted as one application.
applicant is seeking funding? In the financial documents do you want to see budgets and
financial impact modeling on the entire Transformation Plan or only for each Eligible Project?
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
Q#
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Category
Financial Proposal
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Financial Proposal We are a hospital system with one tax ID and all of our hospitals are under one Operating
Yes. Financial information for the entire system is allowed. However, the applicant will
Certificate number and all financials are consolidated to include all owned hospitals within the need to describe how the single-hospital focused project will improve the sustainability
system. The Eligible Project involves one of our hospitals. However, financials are not
of that hospital.
available for individual hospitals. Is it therefore acceptable to include our hospital system’s
consolidated financials for the Financial Proposal including in the Financial Feasibility forms in
Attachment 6, Tab 3? This section is also addressed under Attachment 3. Section 5. Project
Impact on Eligible Applicant Financial Viability. The title of this section leads me to believe the
viability of the hospital system as a whole as the Eligible Applicant should be addressed in the
Financial Proposal and therefore to use our consolidated financials – correct?
74
Financial Proposal Page 19 of the ‘EPP Workforce Specific Requirements 102215.pdf reads “For Eligible
All financial schedules need to be completed, with the exception of Schedule B-3
Projects that involve debt retirement or other non-capital purposes it is understood that not all (Capital-Based Budget) in the instance of seeking only debt relief.
of the components of the Financial Proposal section are applicable.” Attachment 6: Budget
Summary, Tab 3 Impact-Financial Viability asks the applicant to provide financial feasibility
projections for the eligible project. For a debt retirement project, is the eligible hospital only
expected to complete the ‘Cash – Sources and Uses’ and ‘Balance Sheet’ sections? Or are
there other sections that are expected to be completed as well? If so, can you please specify
what sections?
75
Financial Proposal
76
Financial Proposal Must there be matching funds for each line item in Attachment B-3 for which grant funds are
requested?
Financial Proposal Can the services of existing hospital employees be monetized as matching funds where
employees are used to perform capital renovations?
Financial Proposal Should the proposed budget and financial projections be provided for all three years?
Law
Where can a copy of Section 2825-c of the Public Health Law be found?
77
78
79
Can you please tell me which components are applicable for debt retirement?
All financial schedules need to be completed, with the exception of Schedule B-3
(Capital-Based Budget) in the instance of seeking only debt relief.
No.
Yes.
Yes.
A summary of PHL Section 2825-c can be found in Attachment 9: Essential Health
Care Provider Support Program - PHL 2825-c located on the DOH website at
http://www.health.ny.gov/funding/rfa/1510160807/index.htm
An application may include multiple projects. If the Projects are considered
interdependent to creating a financially sustainable system of care and are described
as part of one Plan, they can be submitted as one application. If the Projects are not
interdependent, they do not need to be submitted as one application.
80
Number of
Applications or
Projects
May the application include multiple projects or only a single project?
81
Number of
Applications or
Projects
If a large hospital is working with several smaller hospitals on a solution across a particular
region, should each hospital submit a separate application? Or should the larger hospital
submit one application with separate sections for each smaller community hospital? There will
be differences in the needs by hospital, but the end goal for the region will be the same.
An application may include multiple projects. If the Projects are considered
interdependent to creating a financially sustainable system of care and are described
as part of one Plan, they can be submitted as one application. If the Projects are not
interdependent, they do not need to be submitted as one application.
82
Number of
Applications or
Projects
May an applicant submit multiple applications?
Multiple applications are acceptable. If the Projects are considered interdependent to
creating a financially sustainable system of care and are described as part of one
Plan, they can be submitted as one application. If the Projects are not interdependent,
they do not need to be submitted as one application.
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Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 15-10160807 and RFA No. 15-10190320
Question
Answer
We have two projects that we feel are eligible for funding under this RFA. May I combine
An application may include multiple projects. If the Projects are considered
them, or should I write two separate applications?
interdependent to creating a financially sustainable system of care and are described
as part of one Plan, they can be submitted as one application. If the Projects are not
interdependent, they do not need to be submitted as one application.
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
Q#
83
Category
Number of
Applications or
Projects
84
Number of
Applications or
Projects
Number of
Applications or
Projects
Can a hospital apply for funds in both round 1 and round 2 if they are for different projects?
86
Number of
Applications or
Projects
We have two projects which fit in this RFA – I am wondering if I can lump them together or
should I do separate applications for each one. The first one is to move an outgrown health
center that we own to a new location, buy the land, design and build a brand new facility,
hopefully to accommodate two primary care physicians, one being new, and the other
currently working at the existing facility. The second is to replace the existing HVAC system in
our hospital on the patient floors. It has outlived its useful value and is causing extensive
issues with air quality and operational costs to maintain.
An application may include multiple projects. If the Projects are considered
interdependent to creating a financially sustainable system of care and are described
as part of one Plan, they can be submitted as one application. If the Projects are not
interdependent, they do not need to be submitted as one application.
87
Number of
Applications or
Projects
Multiple applications are acceptable. If the Projects are considered interdependent to
creating a financially sustainable system of care and are described as part of one
Plan, they can be submitted as one application. If the Projects are not interdependent,
they do not need to be submitted as one application.
88
Page Limits
Our hospital is affiliated with a hospital network. We are a CAH and a separate article 28
facility. I would like to submit an application but am also aware that other affiliate hospitals
within the network intend to submit as well. Would multiple requests from a network of
affiliated hospitals jeopardize awards being made to those applying or potentially reduce an
overall award made to any one of the applicants?
Must the DOH questions provided in the fillable attachments for the Technical and Financial
Proposals remain in the narrative to be submitted? Given the 15 page limit, the questions are
8 pages - if we include the questions this will limit the length of the narrative answers.
89
Page Limits
85
90
Yes.
Given that an EA may be involved in multiple DSRIP projects, is there any limit to the number An application may include multiple projects. If the Projects are considered
of projects that an EA may submit as part of its EHCPSP proposal?
interdependent to creating a financially sustainable system of care and are described
as part of one Plan, they can be submitted as one application. If the Projects are not
interdependent, they do not need to be submitted as one application.
When completing the 15 page maximum narrative, the questions and answers should
be repeated in the narrative.
Do the page limitations for the Technical Proposal (RFA section V.A.1.) and the Financial
The Table of Contents does not count as a page in determining maximum page
Proposal (RFA section V.A.2.) include the “Table of Contents” page on the pre-formatted
requirements.
narrative documents (Attachments 2 and 4 respectively) which contain no applicant-specific
information except for Applicant Name and Project Name? In other words, may Attachment 2
be 16 numbered pages and Attachment 4 be 11 numbered pages including the “Table of
Contents” and still meet the 15-page and 10-page maximum requirements?
Posting of Materials Will the recording of the November 4, 2015, webinar be made public on DOH website? What The webinar and the slide set used during the webinar are available on the DOH
other sources of information are there?
website at www.health.ny.gov/funding. The Department's official response to
questions will also be posted on the DOH website on or around November 12, 2015.
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Questions & Answers for Essential Health Care Provider Support Program - RFA No. 15-10160807 and RFA No. 15-10190320
Question
Answer
Is the intent to fund mostly rural partnerships, or will there be funding for downstate hospitals Any applicant that meets the eligibility criteria may apply. Awards will be made first to
as well?
applications ranked as “Good”, then “Acceptable”. In the event that funds are not
sufficient to support all applications in the lowest tier for which funding is available,
when determining final awards within each tier, DOH may give priority consideration to
applications:
1. From Federally designated Critical Access Hospitals, or Federally designated Sole
Community Hospitals, or State designated rural hospitals, or hospitals whose location,
due to transportation infrastructure, distance, and/or travel time, presents a risk to
safe and timely patient transfer or service coordination; or
2. That will help achieve a geographic distribution of funds; or
3. That request $25 million or less, in order to allow the Department to maximize the
number of funded projects; or.
4. That, based on the Department’s knowledge of community needs, will fulfill the
program’s goals, or preserve essential healthcare services in a community in a
manner that is superior to others in the same tier.
KS Comments 110915 715 pm
Q#
91
92
93
94
95
Category
Priority
Consideration
Submission of
Can a hospital apply for funds under both the $300M transformation pool and the $55M
Applications Under innovation pool, if the projects are different?
Both RFAs
Technical Proposal Is Section V, 1. Technical Proposal, 5, Plan and Project Timeline of each RFA answered only
by completing Attachment 3 Work Plan? Or do you expect additional narrative related to the
plan and project timeline as well?
Technical Proposal Can the DSRIP community needs assessment information be used to satisfy the input from
community requirement?
Technical Proposal Should the timeline for the Transformation Plan and the Eligible Project be included in the
Attachment 3 Work Plan?
Yes, if, as stated, the projects are different.
A narrative is expected related to the Plan and Project timeline.
Yes, if the DSRIP community needs assessment information satisfies the
requirements of this RFA.
Yes.
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